Mental Health Act Review publishes final report

Last week the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 (England and Wales) was published.

Welcoming the report, President Wendy Burn said: “The proposals to help people feel as safe and supported as possible are certainly welcome, and the rebalance of choice towards the patient is a way of creating a more modern Mental Health Act”.

Wendy added that “as the Review itself acknowledges, changing legislation alone is not the answer” to addressing rising detention rates.

The Government has committed to bring forward new legislation and has accepted recommendations to change the nearest relative system and to introduce “Advance Choice Documents”.